Auburn's plan on defense was simple: stop All-SEC guard Devan Downey. But the execution of that plan turned out to be near impossible for the Tigers

The South Carolina senior scored a game-high 33 points including 23 in a decisive second half to lead the Gamecocks to an 80-71 win over the Tigers at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum Saturday in the SEC opener for both schools.

"My fears came true in this game," AU head coach Jeff Lebo said. "Devan Downey was just unbelievable. We tried everything against him -- doubling him, zoning him, doubling and screening him. We guarded it in every which way you can guard it. He beat it every which way you can beat it.

"Tonight he was just unbelievable. Unbelievable. He was a one-man wrecking crew."

Downey shot 11-of-23 from the field including 4-of-9 from 3-point range. He made 7-of-11 of his second-half shots scoring 17 points in the final 10 minutes after Auburn tied the game at 52.

"He's a great player," AU forward Lucas Hargrove said. "He had it going tonight. That's pretty much the end of the story."